Jamie Hayter talks injury, new look, and wrestling Mercedes Mone

[Chris]

Jamie Hayter: “When I’m done with Mercedes Moné, she’s going to remember me”

After a back injury nearly ended her career, Hayter is hungry to climb back atop AEW

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Two years have passed since Jamie Hayter last wrestled on pay-per-view.

That match took place in May of 2023 at Double or Nothing when she dropped the AEW women’s championship to Toni Storm in a three-minute bout.

If Hayter wins her match against Mercedes Moné later this month at Double or Nothing, she’ll get a rematch against Storm that is two years in the making.

But the title shot feels miles away. Hayter’s sole focus is wrestling Moné, a notion that once seemed impossible. That is because it appeared Hayter was more likely to retire than return to the ring.

Once Hayter dropped the belt, she disappeared from AEW programming. And largely from public view. That wasn’t by design, but rather out of necessity. Suffering from two herniated discs in her back, she was largely bed-ridden–and in agonizing pain.

“It was an incredibly difficult time,” said Hayter, who is 30-year-old Paige Wooding. “I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. The only thing I could do for long periods of time was sit on my stomach.”

Hayter reached the pinnacle in AEW. Only years prior during the pandemic, she was out of work and living on a friend’s couch. She’d work out in the garage, wondering what she could do to land a job with a major company. Then she caught lightning in a bottle, turning her fear and frustration into one of the hottest acts in wrestling.

Now she is looking to accomplish that same feat again.

“My mom always says to me that every time I fall in shit, I end up smelling like roses,” said Hayter. “That is my life. Every time I think something terrible is going to happen, or that my career is over, something positive happens.

“When I got hurt, I didn’t know what it was. I was still training and wrestling at first. After a while, I couldn’t stand up straight. I was in excruciating pain. I couldn’t even get out of bed for PT.

“It gutted me. It sucked. I didn’t even watch much wrestling. I did a lot of writing, listened to music. When I could move, I’d get outside. It’s nice and sunny here in Georgia, so I wanted to be present in my current situation. Wrestling would always be on the back of my mind, but I needed to focus on my every day and focus on me. I was going to need surgery, but then the pain massively subsided. Weirdly, I’m now glad it happened. Personally, on the inside, I feel a million times better.”

Hayter’s persona and attire–as well as the color of her hair–are all different from her last run. Considering they are more emblematic of the woman who overcame this debilitating back injury, it only makes sense that Hayter wants to introduce this side of herself to the wrestling world.

“I know it was jarring at first because I looked so different–but this is me,” said Hayter. “I’m bringing myself more into my wrestling. My favorite band is The Doors. When I was hurt, listening to their music would cheer me up and get me pumped. I’m really into 60s, 70s psychedelic rock. I love Kate Bush. Music makes me feel good.

“This is like a new album in my career. I like the whole counterculture movement, and I draw a lot of inspiration from that. We’ll see if it’s everyone’s cup of tea.”

As Hayter plans to start her own British Invasion of AEW, she does so carrying an extra swagger. Despite returning last summer, Hayter was missing that magic dose of confidence in the ring. But it was clear in her recent Owen Hart Cup semi-finals match against Kris Statlander that is no longer the case.

Hayter wasn’t thinking twice or plagued by doubt. She finally felt like herself again, which is an exciting proposition as she approaches the Owen Cup finals against Moné at Double or Nothing.

“The injury, it rattled my whole world,” said Hayter. “I truly didn’t know how long I was going to be out or if I could even come back to wrestling. Even after I came back, I didn’t feel right. I don’t mean physically. It’s just the injury spooked me, it affected my confidence. I’ve been back for eight months, and now I’m finally starting to feel like myself again. When I’m in the ring, I know who I am again.”

Defeating Statlander three weeks ago on Dynamite wasn’t just a chance to advance in the tournament. Hayter barged through the proverbial door to get to Moné, and now the two have time to properly build their feud ahead of the pay-per-view.

This isn’t just a chance for Hayter to win the Owen Cup. And it’s more than an opportunity to wrestle Storm for the belt at All In. It is the platform–and opponent–Hayter needs to show that she is back to being one of the most captivating pro wrestlers in the world.

“The stakes are even higher for me because I’d been gone for so long,” said Hayter. “And look what I can do–I can be the one to give Mercedes her first loss in AEW. If I do that, I wrestle Toni Storm for the title at All In.

“Wrestling Mercedes is a very big opportunity. She is fantastic in the ring–you can’t say otherwise. And I love to wrestle. Every time I go in the ring, I’m there to prove myself. And that’s what I’m going to do against Mercedes.”
Hayter has regained her confidence/AEW

If Hayter gives Moné her first taste of defeat in AEW, it would catapult her directly into the main event. She would be one step closer to regaining the world title, which she could defend in London later this summer at Forbidden Door.

But Hayter was careful not to get too far ahead of herself. She recovered from her injury with a one-day-at-time approach, fully investing herself in each day. She is taking the same path with the Owen Cup finals, narrowing her focus–and aim–onto Moné.

“When I’m done with Mercedes Moné, she’s going to remember me,” said Hayter. “For Mercedes, it’s just another belt she’s chasing. For me, it’s everything.”